Re: Off Topic: playing outside

[Guest guest]

I guess it depends on the kids. You don't feel comfortable with it so you

are probably right. My NT son keeps a bit of an eye on my younger one for a

bit, but mainly I keep checking anyways . He is five almost April 28.

He thankfully has not wandered away so I have to call 911 again. He could

have been one of the missing autistic children 2 years ago when he just

wandered away. A neighbor recieved an award for finding him about 45 minutes

later. This was all before diagnosis and intervention. Now thankfully he

answers me when I call and does not stray. So trust yourself, you know more

than any of the neighbors anyways. kelly

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlene,

I think it is wonderful that your son wants to play with other kids.

I could never let my eight year old daughter outside alone - she

still doesn't know how to cross the street. But I can tell you that

my neighbors on either side have NT kids between 5 and 7

years old and they never let them out of their sight. So don't

worry about being overprotective!

Kathy

[Guest guest]

Dear Charlene, I would like to know if Evan will ever be able to even play

in the front yard again without bolting over the fence and taking off to

search out cars to explore. I have trouble letting Evan's 9 yo and 4 yo

brother playing out in front because I never know what they will be up to.

I do not have ANY NT children. The other two do not have autism but they

are either/and/ ADHD/OD/RAD/Bipolar. If they want it, they take it. They

will allow other kids to put them up to the most stupid things that most

kids would know not to do but they also want to 'fit' in. They also are

socially clueless. Used to be the neighbor kids would just come over to

play in their pool or on their trampoline. Then a couple found out that it

was great fun to come over and leave in just a few minutes and leave the 9

yo crying because they left. They would not even stay out front so that he

could play with them but go off somewhere he could not go.

Now that he has his littlest brother living with him, he at least has

someone with his interests. (looking for bugs, digging holes in the back

yard-grrr-- playing on the Nintendo, swing and trampoline.) The two do get

to go out into the front and around the corner but I have to be careful or

they will get into trouble. There is no way that we can let Evan go out

even in the fenced yard un-supervised and I marvel that some can and wonder

if we will ever get that far.

This is no answer I know. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone

in this.

Betty from Central California

grandmother and guardian to

, 9 yo, ADHD/depression/asthma, possible RAD or bipolar

Evan, 7 yo, nonverbal autism

, 4 yo, ADHD/OD, possible RAD or bipolar